GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
EARLY GRIFFIN & HOWE CUSTOM RIFLE WITH SCOPE, STOCKED BY FRED ADOLPH AND ENGRAVED BY RUDOLPH KORNBRATH, GIVEN TO SON OF L.C. SMITH BY HIS SISTER.GRIFFIN & HOWECUSTOM Rifle635 WhelenW/SCOPEMODERN; C&RCal. .35 Whelen. 22" Bbl with short quarter rib, is engraved "No. 6 Griffin & Howe Inc New York" (In early years Griffin & Howe had a separate SN range for each caliber, so this is the 6th 35 Whelen made.). Springfield action with engine turned bolt has later side mount base added. Action and bottom metal nicely scroll engraved; floorplate with scene of moose fighting off attacking wolf. This engraving undoubtedly by Rudolph Kornbrath. Very fine fiddle figured and nicely marbled European walnut capped pistol grip stock features steel trap buttplate and horn forend tip. Fred Adolph, known for his pre-war custom rifles, with fancy checkering patterns having acanthus carved accents, most likely did the stock work on this rifle, as it is assumed he worked for G & H in their early years. A silver oval is engraved "BURNS LYMAN SMITH" (son of L.C. Smith of shotgun fame) "SYRACUSE NY" "FROM SISTER". Rifle is fitted with Zeiss Zielvier scope with fine crosshair and dot reticle in G & H rings. Drop at heel: approx 3-1/8", drop at comb: approx 1-7/8". Cast: neutral. Weight without scope: 7 lbs. 8 oz. LOP: 14-1/4". CONDITION: Excellent, as professionally refinished. Metal parts retain nearly all of a sympathetic rust re-blue, engraving on bbl considerably thinned. Engraving on action slightly softened. Stock has professional hand rubbed oil finish. Carving slightly rounded. 3" x 1/4" piece of wood inset on left side near scope base. Bore is fine, sharp rifling, with frosting toward breech end. Scope is excellent, optically clear. 53051-18 mgm71 (5,000-7,000)